This document provides guidance on effectively engaging a local community online through consultation. It discusses mapping project impacts, choosing the right engagement tools like blogs and forums, managing risks of online discussions, promoting the engagement through various channels, and analyzing and reporting on the results both qualitatively and quantitatively.

1. How to engage and consult your local community onlineDr Crispin ButterissDirector, Bang the Table

2. If you have any follow up questions…Phone +61 3 9014 1000Email crispin@bangthetable.comBlog bangthetable.com/blogTwitter @crispin_BtT @bangthetableFacebook facebook.com/bangthetableSlideshare slideshare.net/bangthetableYouTube youtube.com/bangthetableDelicious delicious.com/bangthetable

4. Planning an effective online engagement strategy

5. Map your project impactsIdentify your stakeholders and engagement objectiveIdentify performance measures and goalsChoose the right tool for the jobPlan your promotional activitiesPrepare rich, pithy and engaging content & questionsPrepare yourself!

6. The top five tools for effective online engagement

7. BlogsForumsMicroblogsSocial NetworksIdeationWikis

16. Risks and their management

17. RoI – Risk of IgnoringSomeone says something nasty (about us or someone else)The community disagrees with usSomeone or a group hijacks the conversationThe media selectively quote from the discussionIt’s just another place for the noisy minorityNo one turns upWe are overwhelmed by responsesOur technology is not up to scratchOur organisation is not ready

18. Marketing and Promotion

19. Build your databaseA BIG link on your homepageA pithy URLKey word contentLocal editorialLocal radioInternal promotionCollateral with URL at all public eventsAdvertising – displays, rates, public transportKeep at it

20. Reporting and Analysis

21. Essential for continued internal supportEssential for “telling the story”Essential for deep analysis of both “engagement” and issuesBoth qualitative and quantitativeGoogle Analytics is NOT particularly usefulBig numbers do not connote successSmall numbers do not connote failure

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